issue 4 digital FINAL

Explore
the cherry capital of the world. Whether it is truly the capital, is open
to debate. But the town’s temperate climate in the Free State highlands
and foothills of the Imperani Mountain, does make it ideal cherrygrowing
country, and it does have a very popular annual Cherry
Festival.
The townsfolk will quickly tell you that all roads lead to Ficksburg in
November. That is when the festival takes place – this year for the 49th
time - and the town is transformed into a cheerful extravaganza of
cherry tasting, cherry stalls, music performances, theatre productions,
tours of cherry and asparagus farms, and just general fun all round.
As if one festival is not enough, the town also simultaneously hosts a
Cherry Jazz Festival with some of South Africa’s biggest names in jazz
performing there.
Also very popular with visitors is the White Mischief river boat, said
to be the world’s only floating cigar bar, with a restaurant on board
too, that cruises the Meulspruit Dam within the Thaba Sediba Private
Nature Reserve bordering Ficksburg. It is a must for whisky lovers, as
not only can you sample the superb range of cigars including cherry
cigars – what else - but you also get to choose from a selection of fine
whiskeys, wines and liqueurs. And you get to do some game and bird
spotting along the way, while the cruise is topped off with a short game
drive.
But there is much more to do in this quaint little town, such as taking a
tour of its signature sandstone buildings dating back to the late-1800s,
or visiting the McKinley Chocolates shop for a mouth-watering choice
of hand-made chocolates and confectionery. These are created by
Calen Thomas, a chocolatier who grew up in Alaska and relocated to
Ficksburg where he now keeps chocolate connoisseurs from all over
the world happy and munching.
Or you can tuck into some excellent cuisine at any of a number of fine
restaurants and lively pubs, view the ancient San rock art in the area,
go on some refreshing hikes – or bike and horseback tours - and take
in the fabulous mountain and highlands vistas, as well as view the
interesting mountain sandstone formations from which many of the
town’s older buildings were constructed. The seat of government,
the Union Buildings in Pretoria, were constructed from the very same
sandstone. A visit to the nearby Sandstone Estates will have you staring
in childlike awe at the largest private collection of narrow-gauge steam
locomotives in the world, reawakening those childhood dreams of
becoming a train driver. There are also a large number of vintage
tractors, military vehicles, classic cars and trucks on display, and during
the Cherry Festival people can go on steam train rides.
Nestled between the mountains and the banks of the Caledon River,
right next to Lesotho, Ficksburg was founded in 1883 and named after
General Jan Fick, Commandant-General of the Boer commandos of the
old Orange Free State Republic. Today Ficksburg is also a gateway to
the Katse Dam and the Highlands Circular Route in Lesotho, while the
Afriski ski resort in Lesotho, one of only two in Africa, is a mere 50km
drive away. Neighbouring towns, such as Clarens, with its annual beer
festival and dinosaur sites, also offer plenty to do and see.
● Contacts: Ficksburg Tourist Information Tel +27 (0)51 933 2130 or
Cell +27 (0)78 466 8633; Cherry Festival Info Tel +27 (0)51 933 6486 or
email gavin@cherryfestival.co.za; or Clarens Tourism
Tel +27 (0)58 256 1542.
Shulevskyy Volodymyr - Shutterstock Marietjie - Shutterstock
Cherry festival
Acorn tree country lane, Ficksburg
MZANZI TRAVEL| www.mzanzitravel.co.za|ISSUE 4 | 51